Mission Point Light is a lighthouse located in the U.S. state of Michigan at the end of Old Mission Point, a peninsula jutting into Grand Traverse Bay 17 miles (27 km) north of Traverse City. When it was built in 1870, it was an exact copy of the Mama Juda Light[2] (now destroyed), which was built on the Detroit River in 1866.[3]

The foundation is natural and emplaced. The wooden structure is painted white with black trim. The square tower is attached to a dwelling.[4]

A fixed white Fifth Order Fresnel lens was installed. The building was only one and one half stories tall. However, its placement on a sand bank 14 feet above the lake's surface created a lens focal plane of 47 feet (14 m). It was visible from 13 miles (21 km)[citation needed] at sea. Maintaining the dune and protecting it and the lighthouse from the deleterious effects of wave action has been a constant struggle.[5]

For 63 years the light served to warn mariners about the shoals off the point. It was a working lighthouse from 1870 to 1933 when it was decommissioned. However, new techniques in offshore construction and the automation of lighthouse illumination made it possible to build a navigation aid on the shoal itself. In 1938, work was completed for the new stationary buoy light in 19 feet (5.8 m) of water, about 2 miles (3.2 km) northwest of Mission Point. The light ran on batteries. It was on a 36-foot (11 m) tall tower, and its focal plane of 52 feet (16 m) help make it visible for 13 miles (21 km). It had a 30-second dwell time between flashes, in order to conserve power.[5] It is still maintained by the Coast Guard today and only shines North.

Famously, the lighthouse stands a few hundred yards south of the 45th parallel north, halfway between the North Pole and the Equator. The lighthouse was deactivated in 1933 and purchased by the State of Michigan.[6] There are a pair of signs that denote its location on the parallel,[7] and it is one of 29 places (six are in Michigan) in the U.S.A. where such signs are known to exist.[8] In 1948, 43 local residents pooled their money to buy the lighthouse and then the Peninsula Township bought the lighthouse to restore the building.

Current status and activities

The lighthouse is located in Old Mission State Park, which is managed by Peninsula Township as Lighthouse Park, at the northern end of M-37.[9] Visitors to the park enjoy the beach, hiking trails and picnic areas. The lighthouse and park are managed by the Lighthouse Manager employed by Peninsula Township.The park welcomes about 100,000 visitors annually from every state and dozens of foreign countries.

As reported in the Traverse City Record Eagle, in a unique program, the lighthouse society sought volunteers to work and live in the Mission Point Light during 2008. There is a fee, which benefits the light.[10]

In 2008, the building opened for the first time to the public (it has a small museum),[11] after serving for many years as the park manager's residence.[6] Today, the lighthouse has a very popular and unique keeper program. The weekly keepers run the gift shop from May through October and get to stay in the updated lighthouse keepers quarters. See details about the keeper program at the website www.missionpointlighthouse.com. The nonprofit Mission Point Lighthouse Keepers Association (MPLKA) helps with funding special projects and supplying volunteers. See the website www.mplka.com

The area around the lighthouse attracts many cross country skiers. The location is becoming increasingly popular, which has subjected it to environmental issues that are being addressed by Peninsula Township.[12]

The Old Mission Peninsula is said to be a premier place to sea kayak.[12] One gets close to shore, lighthouse, picnic grounds and parks. The bay offers a shelter from the prevailing westerly winds and from the Lake Michigan waves. Maps, rentals and guided tours are available.[13]

Because of its form, surroundings and location, it is photogenic, having inspired photographs and illustrations, including drawings[14] and needlepoint.[15] The shoal at Mission Point is very shallow and the water is enjoyed by families and dog owners. Mission Point is visited by about 100,000 people annually. See the website for more information - www.missionpointlighthouse.com

  • Vintage image of the lighthouse
    Vintage image of the lighthouse
  • The lighthouse from the beach in August 2023
    The lighthouse from the beach in August 2023
  • Sign adjacent to the lighthouse
    Sign adjacent to the lighthouse
  • Rear of the lighthouse in July 2006
    Rear of the lighthouse in July 2006
  • The lighthouse in winter of 2009
    The lighthouse in winter of 2009
  • The lighthouse from the water in July 2010
    The lighthouse from the water in July 2010

See also

References

  1. ^ Light List, Volume VII, Great Lakes (PDF). Light List. United States Coast Guard.
  2. ^ "Lighthouse depot, Mama Juda Light". Archived from the original on June 14, 2011. Retrieved May 4, 2008.
  3. ^ "Biggs, Jerry, Mission to Mama, Lighthouse Digest, 10/2000". Archived from the original on July 10, 2003. Retrieved February 28, 2004.
  4. ^ "NPS Inventory of Historic Light Stations". Archived from the original on February 4, 2012. Retrieved April 19, 2004.
  5. ^ a b Terry Pepper, Mission Point lighthouse at Seeing the Light.
  6. ^ a b Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of the United States: Michigan's Western Lower Peninsula". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
  7. ^ Photographs, Old Mission 45th Parallel signs.
  8. ^ List and map of 45th Parallel markers, with links to pictures (accessed 2007-12-17).
  9. ^ M-37 Endpoint Photos. Archived 2013-05-29 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ Lighthouse directory, Mission Point volunteer story.[permanent dead link‍]
  11. ^ Wood TV 8, Lighthouse to open to public, caretakers wanted.[permanent dead link‍]
  12. ^ a b "Peninsula Township Parks". Archived from the original on May 9, 2008. Retrieved May 4, 2008.
  13. ^ Sea kayaking Archived 2012-07-29 at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^ Mulgrew, Marilyn, Drawing of Mission Point Light. Archived 2007-08-28 at the Wayback Machine
  15. ^ Needlepoint of Mission Point Light.[permanent dead link‍]

Bibliography

  • Bibliography on Michigan lighthouses.
  • Crompton, Samuel Willard & Michael J. Rhein, The Ultimate Book of Lighthouses (2002) ISBN 1-59223-102-0; ISBN 978-1-59223-102-7.
  • Hyde, Charles K., and Ann and John Mahan. The Northern Lights: Lighthouses of the Upper Great Lakes. Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 1995. ISBN 0-8143-2554-8 ISBN 978-0-8143-2554-4.
  • Jones, Ray & Bruce Roberts, American Lighthouses (Globe Pequot, September 1, 1998, 1st Ed.) ISBN 0-7627-0324-5; ISBN 978-0-7627-0324-1.
  • Jones, Ray,The Lighthouse Encyclopedia, The Definitive Reference (Globe Pequot, January 1, 2004, 1st ed.) ISBN 0-7627-2735-7; ISBN 978-0-7627-2735-3.
  • Noble, Dennis, Lighthouses & Keepers: U. S. Lighthouse Service and Its Legacy (Annapolis: U. S. Naval Institute Press, 1997). ISBN 1-55750-638-8; ISBN 978-1-55750-638-2.
  • Oleszewski, Wes, Great Lakes Lighthouses, American and Canadian: A Comprehensive Directory/Guide to Great Lakes Lighthouses, (Gwinn, Michigan: Avery Color Studios, Inc., 1998) ISBN 0-932212-98-0.
  • Penrod, John, Lighthouses of Michigan, (Berrien Center, Michigan: Penrod/Hiawatha, 1998) ISBN 978-0-942618-78-5 ISBN 978-1-893624-23-8.
  • Penrose, Laurie and Bill, A Traveler's Guide to 116 Michigan Lighthouses (Petoskey, Michigan: Friede Publications, 1999). ISBN 0-923756-03-5 ISBN 978-0-923756-03-1
  • Pepper, Terry. "Seeing the Light: Lighthouses on the western Great Lakes".
  • Putnam, George R., Lighthouses and Lightships of the United States, (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1933).
  • United States Coast Guard, Aids to Navigation, (Washington, DC: U. S. Government Printing Office, 1945).
  • Price, Scott T. "U. S. Coast Guard Aids to Navigation: A Historical Bibliography". United States Coast Guard Historian's Office.
  • Wagner, John L. "Beacons Shining in the Night: The Lighthouses of Michigan". Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University.
  • Wagner, John L., Michigan Lighthouses: An Aerial Photographic Perspective, (East Lansing, Michigan: John L. Wagner, 1998) ISBN 1-880311-01-1 ISBN 978-1-880311-01-1.
  • Wargin, Ed, Legends of Light: A Michigan Lighthouse Portfolio (Ann Arbor Media Group, 2006). ISBN 978-1-58726-251-7.
  • Wright, Larry and Wright, Patricia, Great Lakes Lighthouses Encyclopedia Hardback (Erin: Boston Mills Press, 2006) ISBN 1-55046-399-3.
Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mission_Point_Light
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